100% Renewable Energy

Why 100% Renewable Energy?

We all know that burning oil, gas, and coal has polluted our air, water, and land for decades - and now it's changing the climate even faster than scientist feared it would.

We know we can have healthier communities right now and a livable future for ourselves and generations to come. But to get there, we must transform the way we produce and consume energy. That's got to start with a commitment to 100% clean, renewable energy.

Standing in the way of this progress, of course, are the fossil fuel companies. Time and time again they have demonstrated their ability and willingness obfuscate, outright lie, and lobby like hell to block the shift to clean energy wanted by most Americans. Despite all of their hard work, we’re making progress. We will keep working with you and our many allies to achieve the 100% clean, renewable energy future that the climate crisis demands and our health, our well-being, and our children deserve!

A 100 percent clean energy future means shifting from dirty energy to completely clean energy sources wherever and however we can. 2015, more than ever before, demonstrated that 100% clean, renewable energy is completely possible. Clean energy had many important victories (which will be discussed in future posts) in the past year including being a major focus of the Paris Climate Conference as well as Congress opening the door to more renewable energy growth than ever before! During the Paris Climate Conference 1,000 mayors came together to sign the Paris City Hall Declaration, which pledges support of long-term climate goals such as 100% clean energy.

In the U.S., renewable energy is on the move. 61% of the new electric generation added in 2015 was wind and solar. 2015 saw record progress with a solar installation happening every 2 minutes, more solar was installed this year than all solar installed prior to 2012. Wind energy grew by over 3,600 MW in 2015, now providing enough energy to power 19 million American homes. Most importantly, Congress paved the way for even more advances in clean, renewable energy when they extended critical renewable energy tax incentives for wind and solar for the next 4 to 6 years.

Why Organize on 100%?

Organizing around 100% renewable energy allows us to frame the debate nationally about an efficient, clean energy future while building and demonstrating power in key congressional districts and states around the country.

100% Renewable Energy Campuses

In order to move America towards a 100% clean energy future, we need to continue to move 100% renewable energy into the mainstream. A key part of that effort will be working on college and university campuses. College and university campuses are home to important thought leaders, researchers, and most importantly, to students. College and university campuses have a long history of leading the charge on some of America's most important social movements.

Right now, Environment America, Student PIRGs, and The Climate Reality Project are working together on a coordinated effort to raise the visibility of 100% renewable energy and jumpstart a national conversation by holding a series of events while launching 100% renewable energy campaigns on dozens of campuses.

Campaign Updates

Boston, MA - Massachusetts’ largest university took a big step towards leading the country on climate action by committing to purchase 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources like solar and wind by end of 2018.

America’s institutions of higher education can play a leadership role in the fight to prevent the worst impacts of global warming. Colleges and universities across the country should aggressively deploy clean energy on campus, setting a goal to meet all their energy needs with clean renewable resources.

Environmental regulations have been facing rocky shores lately. Especially when it comes to drilling rocks for natural gas by way of fracking. We’re excited about the precedent Maryland set this week by passing a permanent ban to hydraulic fracturing!

Washington, D.C. - Today, Environment America and the Student Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) launched a campaign to secure commitments from American colleges and universities to shift to 100 percent renewable energy.